Disease Activity-Related Sleep Dysfunction in Psoriasis: Insights from a Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Sleep Medicine
• Psychosomatic Medicine

Background:

• Psoriasis (PsO) is a chronic immune-mediated disease with a significant burden beyond skin symptoms.
• Sleep disturbances are an under-recognized aspect of patient-reported outcomes in PsO.
• Understanding the link between PsO activity and sleep is crucial for holistic patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between PsO disease activity and specific sleep domains.
• To determine if PsO severity independently predicts sleep latency and daytime dysfunction.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 136 PsO patients from two Italian centers.
• Disease severity assessed by Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI).
• Sleep quality evaluated using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI); quality of life by SF-36.
• Statistical analysis included univariable and multivariable ordinal regression models.

Main Results:

• Patients with higher PsO disease activity (PASI ≥ 10) reported significantly worse sleep latency and greater daytime dysfunction.
• No significant differences in global PSQI scores were observed between disease severity groups.
• Multivariable analysis confirmed PASI ≥ 10 as an independent predictor of increased sleep latency and daytime dysfunction.

Conclusions:

• Increased PsO disease activity is independently associated with impaired sleep latency and daytime dysfunction.
• The impact of PsO on sleep is domain-specific, affecting specific aspects rather than overall sleep quality.
• Integrating domain-specific sleep assessments into PsO management is essential for patient-centered care.